A brilliant blast of light, preceded by distant thunder shaking the skies. Clouds loomed over the dark, void city of broken buildings and dreams below, parted enough to only allow the luminous shine of the heart-shaped moon hanging among the invisible stars. Shadows lurked everywhere, anywhere they could find refuge. The streets were bare and cold, the atmosphere deadly quiet and devious.

Yet, in the middle of this sea of disparity and gloom resided a castle, a grand citadel of white hanging in the sky by unseen ties.

And within this castle, a group of cloaked men and women were seated in outrageously tall chairs in a bleach white room under a bleach white roof. There were thirteen tall seats; only eleven were filled. For the most part they were all quiet, but a few found it necessary to chat among themselves, until a man in the tallest chair – obviously the Superior of the group –, a tanned man with fierce gold eyes that simply screamed insanity and silver spiked locks cleared his throat. The room fell silent.

"The time…has come." He spoke wisely, slowly, pronunciating each word to emphasize their importance. "Sora will awaken at any moment. And when he does, the plan we've so long strived for will be placed into effect."

"It has begun." A blue haired man, named Saix, in a lower seat next to him murmured, just loud enough for all to hear. His eyes were gold too, but held bestiality unlike any other.

"Yes…" A blonde man, named Luxord, with sharp azure eyes stated. In his hands was a deck of cards, and his skilled hands and fingers shuffled them as he spoke. "But do you really believe that we are ready?"

"Of course we are ready!" An older man, Vexen, with long, dirty blonde hair and acidic green eyes snapped at the younger member. "Sora's awakening shall set everything into place! And we will retrieve our hearts at last."

The first man, known as Xemnas, smirked. "Indeed. I do believe things will go smoothly. Sora is a surprisingly strong boy. He will not let us down."

A few snickers, a few sneers.

Lexaeus, a burly man with short orange hair and sturdy cobalt eyes grunted. "And of Riku?"

"Riku?" A rose haired man with devious navy eyes, Marluxia, propped his elbow up on the arm of his chair, using his hand to prop his chin up so that he could lean slightly. "What is your concern with him?"

"He is merely an outlier." The man looked to the floor, arms crossed. "But he if interjects…"

"You worry far too much, Lexaeus." Marluxia mused.

"He's right." A woman – the only grown woman in the group – named Larxene, agreed, drawing her fingers through her short blonde hair as she flashed her sea green eyes towards him. She smirked cockily. "Riku won't be a bother to us. He isn't strong enough."

"He has a point, Number XII." Xaldin, a black dreadlock haired man with massive sideburns and almost electric blue eyes, boomed. "We cannot ignore the possible threat that Riku may possess."

"Hm…be right back, dudes." A man with a heavy surfer accent said, just before he disappeared through a swirling mass of black and purple. The room was quiet for only a minute or so, before the previous ambience returned.

"Regardless," the Superior said, "we will assure he causes no problems for us. After we release our special weapon…"

"Our Key…" Saix added in quietly.

The tanned man nodded his approval. "Our Key…" A borderline wicked grin spread across his face. "We will be untouchable."

An air of uneasiness wafted in, expressed upon a few choice members who decided to turn their heads to the ground to hide it.

And somewhere in the castle, somewhere far away where their villainous plans could not be heard to even the most trained ear, she sat on her bed, drawing innocently, oblivious to the evil in which they were prepared to force upon her.

000

A soft, simple lullaby.

That's what was playing in the background.

The brunette hovered there, lying on something study yet invisible to any eye. But it wasn't totally firm. He felt as if he was floating, like being rocked on the waves which he once remembered, and had to learn to remember again. It was very soothing.

Over him, stood a boy. What he looked like wasn't of importance, or even why he was there wasn't that important. All that was important was, although black swarmed his vision, he knew that this boy had eyes just like his.

The boy looked upon him, something close to pity in his gaze.

"Sora…"

Is…he talking to me?

The boy smiled faintly and shook his head. "You're such a mess…"

He desperately tried to open his eyes, but didn't find such strength. He would simply have to settle for hearing his voice, although it was faint and blurry. Something within him…wasn't quite right. He felt as if he were submerged underwater, the voice echoing and wavering in his ears.

"I need you…to fix everything. It's what people like us do…"

So we are alike?

He felt the gaze leave him, turned away. "It appears that…I'm not allowed to be anymore. It looks like…I must return. I must go back to where I belong."

He didn't sound very happy…almost as if it were a bother to do so. Who wouldn't want to go to where they belong?

"She's counting on you, Sora. She needs a hero this time."

She?

Is it that girl…the one so very precious to him? The one that is still waiting for him?

He could force his lips apart, but no sound broke through. He could only mouth the words he wanted to annunciate.

Do you mean…Kairi?

The boy grinned. Instead of giving an answer, he grinned. What was that supposed to mean?

He was still waiting, but nothing new came to his ears.

Suddenly, the music stopped, and the world rapidly, but peacefully, grew whiter and whiter. The floating stopped. Sounds came back. He knew he was now in a different place. The air he was breathing felt rawer, not as pure.

This was real.

And, finally, for the first time in a long time, although he didn't know it,

Sora opened his eyes and awoke.

000000

There we are. Hope ya'll enjoyed, and see ya'll next chapter.